Poetry Corner: Katrina Monroe “Walking the Dog at the Benicia Pier”

The Christmas grand dame stands at the end of First Street,
proudly displaying her rainbow jewelry sparkling in the sunshine,
and surveying the barking seals who sing situations,
and bask in the joyfulness of everyday life,
while soaring seagulls an egrets suddenly swoop
to snatch their supper from the Bay Area’s bounty.
The waves brush the lips of the shore, then surrender the stems
of water lilies from the Delta as a love token to the town.
The Northeast wind caresses the winter surface,
which in return shimmers with enchantment.
Above it all, a benevolently paternal sun
bends lower in the unblemished December sky,
and murmurs messages of encouragement to the newly born grasses,
weaned from the mother’s milk of last week’s rains.
The dog raises his head to take in the evidence,
and then twitching his nose, proclaims it all good!